BETHAL – The OK Grocer in Bethal was robbed on Thursday, 18 April.
Mr Ricardo Basson, one of the managers on duty that day, said two men armed with an AK47 assault rifle and a 9mm pistol entered the store first at about 7.30pm and fired off a warning shot.
“Some customers were so terrified, they hid in the fridges.
“The rest of the gang then entered. One of them was armed with a pitch axe,” Mr Basson told the Echo.
According to the police, the gang comprised of eight men who wore balaclavas. Mr Basson said the robbers also wore gloves.
“They ordered us to lie down on the floor and then told a cashier to open the cash register.
“They slapped her when she was unable to comply, but I had the keys to the cash drawers,” explained Mr Basson.
A robber manhandled Mr Basson towards the tills and ordered him to unlock the cash registers.
“By the fourth till he must have noticed I was very stressed and he told me to relax and calm down,” Mr Basson told the newspaper.
He said CCTV showed that the robbers fled in a silver 2011 model Audi A4 and a dark blue Golf 7.
Const Thomas Mogadime, spokesman for the Bethal Police, said the suspects only managed to take R6 000 before fleeing the scene.
“They shot at the police bakkie that was parked outside. Fortunately no one was injured,” said Const Mogadime.
The police are investigating a case of business robbery and of attempted murder.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bethal Police at 017 647 9929/30.
